Welcome to My IaidoVerse

About My IaidoVerse^2.0

^{(Iaito photo above by Swords of Northshire; photo on the left by Colette Phillips.)}

Welcome to My IaidoVerse^2.0.

"Iaido" = "I" (being present) + "ai" (harmony) + "do" (the way)

As a relatively new/old Iaidoka, the Iaido world was initally quite confusing and it was difficult to figure out if I was heading in the right direction.

From the onset I recognized that there are many different organizations offering instruction in a variety of Iaido styles—this is a "two-edged sword," so to speak. On one edge, it is fantastic to have so many styles available. However, on the other edge, it can be a source of confusion for the Iaido Newbie.

Additionally, I felt there was a gap in online resources in terms of a one-stop website that illuminated my particular Iaido path.

I post most of my pictures and current things on Bluesky.

My current focus is on the Seitei Katas.

It is my sincere hope that others in similar circumstances find some value in My IaidoVerse.

It may seem difficult at first, but everything is difficult at first.
- Miyamoto Musashi

Seitei Katas

Posted by on April 13, 2024

Seitei Iaido consists of 12 katas that have become a standard around the world for training and gradings. It is also known as the Zen Nippon Kendo Renmei's Iaido kata set.

The katas are as follows:

1. Mae (a kneeling suppression kata)
2. Ushiro (a kneeling suppression kata)
3. Ukenagashi (a kneeling kata)
4. Tsuka Ate (a kneeling kata)
5. Kesagiri (a standing kata)
6. Morotezuki (a standing kata)
7. Sanpougiri (a standing kata)
8. Ganmenate (a standing kata)
9. Soetezuki (a standing kata)
10. Shihogiri (a standing kata)
11. Sougiri (a standing kata)
12. Nukiuchi (a standing kata)

ZNKR IAI (2014)

Reiho

Posted on April 14, 2024

Proper etiquette or polite behavior is highly valued in civilized societies. In the Iaido dojo this is particularly evident during Reiho, the Japanese term for bowing etiquette.

There are two basic categories of bowing:

1. Hajime No Reiho (opening)
2. Owari No Reiho (closing)

While the components and order change depending on whether it is at the beginning or ending of an Iaido class, the bowing primarily consists of:

1. Shomen Ni Rei (bow to the front)
2. To Ni Rei (bow to the sword)
3. Otegai Ni Rei (bow to each other)

Training

Updated on October 7, 2024

I am currently leading Iaido classes at The Rock Kendo & Iaido Club.

Weekly classes are held on Mondays from 8:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at St. Andrew's Elementary School, 141 University Avenue, St. John's, NL A1B 1Z4 (side entrance).

Additionally, I train via Zoom with Alexander Cook Sensei and his senior students at Ka Muso Kai (Calgary).

Muso Shinden-ryu is the most popular style of Iaido in the world today. ("Muso Shinden" means "transmission [of] devine vision.")

I have been working from mulitiple sources to piece together the common Muso Shinden-ryu headmasters and timeline:
- Hayashizaki Jinsuke Shigenobu (c. 1553)
- Tamiya Heibei Shigemasa (c. 1574)
- Nagano Muraku Nyudo Kinrosai
- Momo Gumbei Mitsushige
- Arikawa Shozaemon Munetsugu (c. 1580)
- Banno Dan'emon No Jo Nobusada (c. 1590)
- Hasegawa Chikaranosuke Eishin (c. 1610)
- Arai Seitetsu Kiyonobu
- Hayashi Rokudayu Morimasa (c. 1675)
- Hayashi Yasudayu Seisho (c. 1732)
- Oguro Motoemon Kiyokatsu (c. 1742)

According to Ka Muso Ka, our rich Muso Shinden-ryu (Shimomura-ha Muso Jikiden Eishin-ryu) Iaido lineage is as follows (I added years where available):
- Matsuyoshi Teisuke (Shinsuke) Hisanari (c. 1790)
- Yamakawa Kyuzo Yukikatsu (Yukio) (c. 1808)
- Shimomura (Tsubouchi) Moichi (Seisure) Sadamasa (c. 1848)
- Hosokawa (Gisho) Yoshimasa (Yoshiuma) (c. 1877, After Oe Masamichi Shikei)
- Nakayama (Hakudo) (Yushin) Hiromichi (c. 1923)
- Danzaki, Tomoaki (1906 – 2003)
- Mitsuzuka, Takeshi (1926 – 2008)
- Yamamoto, Shotaro (1927 – 2013)
- Chris Gilham (1971 - )

^{(Photo below with Alex Cook Sensei, left, and Chris Gilham Sensei, right,
during a Koryu Chuden, or middle level, seminar in Calgary, July 2024.)}

Seminar Picture